Steelport Knife Company in Portland, Oregon, a maker of American forged carbon steel cutlery that started selling its 8-inch chef’s knife last year, has now introduced a less common 6-inch version. The shorter blade is slightly more curved at the tip and the shape borrows aspects of a Japanese santoku, so it’s wider than a Western chef’s knife, a useful feature. Eytan Zias and Ron Khormaei, who founded the company in 2020, said they “do not make shapes that are classically French, Japanese or German, but rather design the knives in a practical way that makes sense to us and is most effective for the user.” They also point out that the United States does not have the defined traditions of other countries known for cutlery, so it is easier to innovate. The knife is easy to sharpen, has a dark patina, a deep bolster and a beautiful, if somewhat heavy, Oregon big leaf maple burl handle. There is an heirloom written all over the place.
Steelport 6-inch chef’s knife, $395 with wooden sheath, $350 without, steelportknife.com.
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